I have been walking into my local bank (both NAB and CBA) and ask for telegraphic transfer, they charges $28 a pop, so as long as you manage your finance so you aren’t transfering every week, you will be fine. They give you a proper receipt, so shouldn’t be much of a problem as long as you have the full name and the correct account number of the…[Read more]

OK lets run through this step by step,

You should be able to locate blue mountain city council by now, then click on “city development” then “environment plan”, you should reach this place:
http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?L1=1&L2=556&L3=564

You can see there are a few plans available, you will have to read through them, the one seems to be…[Read more]

WOW

That’s great prices, who’s the builder? do they do any work in Sydney? We just got DA for 3 villa, you think they would be interested in building them for that price in Sydney.

Our current quoting rate for our clients for Sydney mid to hige rise apartments is $1500 to $2000 per square metre.. as usual, depends on level of finishes.…[Read more]

I think we need a bit more information before we can help you futher, at least let us know if it is in metro Sydney or not. Because from my own experience, I very rarely see council post their maps on the web. Not sure why they don’t do it, but they sure are helpful.

If it’s in metro Sydney, if you let me know what council it is, I may be able to…[Read more]

Make sure you check the zoning of the property, just because there are units around the corner and next door, doesn’t mean you can build another block of unit.

We were in this situation, a developer brought a block of 5 flats. Because it was built so long ago, they figure that with the new planning rule (DCP), they can knock down those 5 flats…[Read more]

I can only speak for NSW, it maybe different in other states.

If you need to know what is permissible in a certain zone, DCP won’t do you any good. You will need to dig up the LEP (local environment plan), some council call it something different. For example Gosford council calls it planning ordinance or something like that.

Once in the LEP, it…[Read more]

I can only speak for NSW, it maybe different in other states.

If you need to know what is permissible in a certain zone, DCP won’t do you any good. You will need to dig up the LEP (local environment plan), some council call it something different. For example Gosford council calls it planning ordinance or something like that.

Once in the LEP, it…[Read more]

I have one piece of advice, make sure your tender documents have maximum amount of information, espeically finishes and fixtures, leave no stone un-turn. Because the more detail you have, the less likely the builder would come to you later and ask you what kind of taps you want; but because it wasn’t included in the tender/contract set, and then…[Read more]

Hi Dom,

I am not sure how things are different from Qld than NSW, but on this side of the border, this is what I would do.

First thing is to check with council, check out the zoning, whether you are allow to put anything but single-dwelling on your pot of land. Some may allow you to have duplex, some even villas or units. You also need to know…[Read more]

I won’t say that I’m an expert in this, but I do know that in order for the developer to secure the loan to build the block of unit. They need to achieve a certain level of pre-sell (say 40%) being sold off the plan. I would imagine they would offer some kind of incentive for investor. And naturally in a rising market, if they sale of the plan at…[Read more]